The protestors conducted informational picketing outside the ESPN Zone restaurant at the LA Live complex, then marched to the adjacent Staples Center. They drew taunts from some counter-demonstrators, including one who criticized the activists for putting a swastika on an American flag.

Opponents of Arizona’s SB 1070 have likened it to actions taken by Nazi Germany against Jews, a comparison that drew criticism last week from the international Jewish human rights organization, the Simon Wiesenthal Center.

“The Wiesenthal Center along with many other Americans expressed our opposition to the language of the Arizona immigration bill, but it is inappropriate and irresponsible to link the bill to actions of Nazi Germany,” said Rabbi Abraham Cooper, the center’s associate dean.

“In a democracy, there is no need to demonize opponents, even when they are mistaken, to those whose actions led to history’s most notorious crime.”

Jackson today asked that his comments “not be used by either side to rally activists.”

“I’ve been involved in a number of progressive political issues over the years and I support those who stand up for their beliefs,” Jackson said in a statement issued by the team. “It is what makes this country great.

“I have respect for those who oppose the new Arizona immigration law, but I am wary of putting entire sports organizations in the middle of political controversies,” he said.

“This was the message of my statement. I know others feel differently, even in the Lakers organization, but it was a personal statement. In this regard, it is my wish that this statement not be used by either side to rally activists.”

During his pregame news conference May 4, Jackson was asked by ESPN.com columnist J.A. Adande for his thoughts on Suns owner Robert Sarver having his team wear “Los Suns” jerseys for a May 5 game, partly in response to the law and partly because of the Cinco de Mayo celebration.

“Am I crazy, or am I the only one that heard when the legislators said that `We just took United States immigration law and adapted it to our state?”‘ Jackson said

Jackson then asked Adande if his interpretation of the law was correct. Adande said Arizona “usurped the federal law.”

Jackson disagreed, saying “it’s not usurping, they just copied it, is what they said they did, the legislators. Then they give it some teeth to be able to enforce it.”

SB 1070 empowers local law enforcement to check the immigration status of suspects they have stopped for other reasons if there is a reasonable suspicion they are in the country illegally. The law specifically bars police from racial profiling.

Jackson sometimes makes inflammatory statements during the playoffs in an attempt to get a psychological advantage over opposing players and their fans during the playoffs.

It was unclear if that was a factor in his comments, which prompted the Mexican American Political Association and Southern California Immigration Coalition to decide to picket today’s Game 1 of the Western Conference finals against the Suns.

“We are not happy with the position that Phil Jackson took,” Nativo Lopez, the president of the Mexican American Political Association, said before the protest.

“We want to call on Jackson and the Lakers to put on their Los Lakers jerseys, especially considering the tremendous support that the Lakers have enjoyed from the communities specifically targeted by the misguided and racist Arizona law.”

The groups also “want to welcome Los Suns of Arizona and thank them for the symbolic support,” Lopez said.

The Lakers will not wear their Los Lakers jerseys for any playoff games, Lakers spokesman John Black said. He was unaware of anyone from the Laker organization being contacted by either group.

“We will not be getting involved in choosing sides among our many different support groups in any debate, nor will we be getting involved in political issues of this nature,” Black told City News Service.

“Our focus and goal at this time is on basketball, winning games, and hopefully winning another championship, which we feel the vast majority of our fans want us to focus on.”

The Lakers wore the Los Lakers jerseys for their March 21 game in connection with the NBA’s “Noche Latina,” program, part of the NBA’s marketing efforts aimed at Latinos, the third consecutive year they have done so “to honor, support and show gratitude to all the Hispanic and Spanish- speaking fans of the Lakers and the NBA,” Black said.

“This has also tied in with other things we’ve done over the years to support and reach out to our fans, including our annual Fiesta Lakers event, which we started in the 2004-05 season; broadcasting our games in Spanish since 1994, and other efforts to reach out to this loyal constituency of ours,” Black said.

Lopez said he understands those who want to avoid politicizing the best- of-seven series that will determine the Western Conference representatives in the NBA finals.

“My whole family is fanatical sports fans and say `Don’t touch my team with anything that smacks of politics’,” Lopez said. “But we’re more worried about the people that are being victimized in Arizona.” CNS-05-17-2010 19:30